Who is the best Nazi in the world? John Banner! His real name may not be a household word but his character's is. John Banner played the iconic character of Sergeant Hans Georg Schultz on the popular TV series "Hogan's Heroes".
Banner was actually a Austrian Jew born in Vienna. He escaped the Nazi occupation and got to Hollywood. Banner was then cast as a Nazi in the anti-German films during and after the war. His career was stalled until he had his break through as Sgt. Schultz the most inept Nazi in a stalag of ineptitude Stalag 13.
John Banner after his fame on "Hogan's Heroes" was able to be cast in guest starring role on many TV shows. He and his wife decided to return to his native Austria in 1972. It was while visiting friends in Vienna John (Johann Banner) Banner died. It was on his 63rd birthday.
Kappa Alpha Psi may just go down as the wildest frat in the good ole USA. They decided to have a toy drive for the Xmas season at a hotel in Long Beach, California. Well you know how toy drives can get, the next thing you know a festive holiday step contest starts up as they do. Natch a riot breaks out. Sucker punches and pepper spray rear theirs heads. Happy Holidays!
If you are a fan of the British sitcom "Are you Being Served?" you know her um face. Her name is Candy Davis famous Page Three girl cum actress. Candy Davis is most remembered for her role of the slightly daft but extremely buxom Miss Belfridge. Candy Davis is really Candy Davis' creation. Born in London in 1962 to a nice and normal English family, her father worked for NASA and her mother was a school mistress. When Candy, then known as Clare Bastin, was teenager she worked in a candy store until she ran away from home and became a stripper. She went on to become very well known as one of the naughty Page Three models in the London Sun. In 1982 Candy Davis won the Miss Nude title and it was because of this she was given the role of Miss Belfridge on "Are You Being Served?". Her role was that of the secretary in Mr Rumboldt's office. The role was played by several actresses until Candy Davis was cast. Miss Belfridge became a regular character in the later years of the series. There was a running joke on the show where either Mrs. Slocum or Miss Brahms would find Miss Belfridge in the lady's fitting room trying on a very small and revealing bathing costume.
Candy Davis knew what she was doing and parlayed her good looks and body into a prosperous career.
Cute curly haired and freckle faced Johnny Whitaker was a 1960's hot commodity. He started off his career doing a local LA car commercial before getting cast in "The Russians are Coming the Russians are Coming". It was his role along side Anissa Jones as twin Jodie Davis on the television series "Family Affair" that made him a household name. Whitaker played Buffy's twin brother for five years.
The next major role on television was the role of Johnny Stewart in the Sid and Marty Croft Saturday morning show "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters". He also appeared on many televisions shows like "Green Acres", "Adam 12", and Walt Disney's "Wonderful World of Color". Whitaker also starred as the title role in the musical film version of Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer".
After graduating from high school Johnny Whitaker lived in Portugal for several years as a missionary. Upon returning he worked here and there as an actor eventually joining his sister's talent agency. One of his client's was Dana Plato from "Different Strokes". He has worked with SAG/AFTRA Young Performers Committee with the goal of helping child actors transition in adult life and careers. In 1997 he started a drug and alcohol dependency program after giving up drugs and alcohol himself.
Johnny Whitaker is now 54 years old.
There is a Christmas tradition in Providence, Rhode Island like no other tradition. The tradition is The Dancing Cop. The Dancing Cop is Tony Lepore and he directs traffic over the holidays in key Providence intersections. Lepore is a retired Providence Police officer who was at one time a traffic cop and directed traffic. The dancing part started as standing is the street directing traffic is sort of boring and to entertain himself he started to dance. Well you would think he would be in trouble for these antics but Providence residents loved it. Lepore is now retired but he comes back every year to stand in the snow and rain to direct shoppers and office workers in the downtown area. His performances are fun to watch and get a lot of attention, unfortunately drivers are so entranced with him traffic can at times snarl. Too much of a good thing!
Actress Eleanor Parker has died today. She was 91 years old. Although she was in over 80 movies and was known as the woman with a thousand faces she will always be rememberd a the jilted scheming Baroness in "TheSound of Music" Parker worked with everyone and was in some amazing movies but her performance as the icy Baroness with her heart set on Baron Van Trapp in "The Sound of Music" willmke her immortal!Married 4 times Eleanor Parker died in her Palm Springs home.
